146 A YEAR'S WORK IN THE VEGETABLE GARDEN 



production of a rich flavour with plenty of aroma. In large gardens, 

 three crops of Melons are usually grown in the same house in one 

 season. A light soil is advisable at the beginning of the year, but a 

 heavier compost may be employed with advantage as the season 

 advances. For the first sowing select an early variety, such as Hero 

 of Lockinge, and put the seed in separate pots at the beginning of 

 this month. Re-pot the plants once, and they will be ready for the 

 beds by the first week of February. Melons from this sowing should 

 be fit for table in May, and that is quite as early as they can be 

 produced with any sugar in them. Until the fruits begin to swell, 

 the treatment advised for Cucumbers will suit Melons also. After- 

 wards the watering will need careful management. It would be an 

 advantage if the fruit could be finished off without a drop of water 

 from the time they are about two inches in diameter, but the hot 

 pipes render it almost impossible. Still, water must not be given more 

 frequently than is actually necessary to keep the plants going, and 

 when it is applied let there be a thorough soaking. At the same 

 time ventilation will demand constant attention, and provided the 

 temperature can be maintained, it is scarcely possible to give air too 

 freely. In the early stage of growth, and in mild weather, if the 

 thermometer registers 65 at 9 P.M., the cultivator may sleep peace- 

 fully so far as Melons are concerned. As the season advances, the 

 temperature may be increased to 70 by night, and 75 to 90 by 

 day. With reference to stopping, it may be sufficient to say that it is 

 a waste of energy to allow the plant to make a large quantity of vine, 

 which has afterwards to be cut away. By judiciously pinching out 

 the shoots, the plant can be equally spread over the allotted space. 

 The flowers must be fertilised, and in this respect the treatment 

 differs from that advised for Cucumbers. The practice has the ad- 

 vantage of allowing the fruits to be evenly distributed over the vine, 

 and from four to six, according to the size of the variety, will be 

 enough for each plant to ripen. 



MUSTARD. Those who care for salads will need a supply of this 

 aiticle almost all through the year, and to secure a succession it will 

 be necessary to sow at regular intervals. It is a good plan to keep a 

 few boxes in use for the purpose in a plant-house or pit, sowing one 

 or two at a time as required to insure a succession, and taking care 

 not to sow wastefully. It may be grown out of doors all the summer, 

 on a shady border, but nothing beats boxes or large pans under glass. 

 Mustard and Cress should never be sown in the same row or the 

 same pan but separately, because they do not grow at the same pace, 



